The Republic of China: I, Xiangzi, a Hero in a Chaotic Era

"Therefore, the police station needs to undergo a thorough overhaul."

Liu Jiaxiang withdrew his gaze, leaned back in his chair, and placed his hands folded in front of his abdomen.

"The first thing to address is the issue of image and demeanor."

He paused, making sure every word was etched into everyone's hearts.

"Everyone will be provided with a brand new police uniform, and their police equipment will also be replaced."

Before the words were even finished, the patrol officers were struck dumb.

The burly patrolman suddenly looked up, his lips trembling, and despair instantly welled up in his eyes.

A young patrolman next to him was deathly pale, his fingers nervously twisting the hem of his shirt, his voice trembling with tears:

"Director, please have mercy!"

The tall, thin policeman pleaded, bending even lower, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"The brothers only earn so little each month, and it's often delayed, so they really can't afford police equipment and uniforms."

The other patrol officers chimed in, their voices a cacophony of whispers, their eyes pleading as if awaiting the final verdict.

Liu Jiaxiang waved his hand decisively, interrupting the chorus of wailing.

"Who told you to pay for it yourselves?"

A faint smile curved his lips as he turned his gaze to the corner of the table, as if examining an insignificant object.

"The institute just received a sum of money, didn't it?"

The patrol officers looked at each other blankly, not understanding what was going on.

Liu Jiaxiang continued, his tone as calm as if recounting a routine matter:

"Liu Si sent someone to pick up the rickshaw and paid a fine of 150 silver dollars."

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a soft tapping sound.

"Use this money to buy me a Mauser pistol and two rifles. Use the rest to upgrade your police uniforms and equipment."

Liu Jiaxiang raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the frozen faces of the crowd.

"Winter is coming soon, so I'll give each of you another cotton-padded coat."

The meeting room fell into dead silence.

The patrol officers stood frozen in place, their eyes wide and mouths slightly agape, as if they had misheard a fantastical tale.

The burly patrolman's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his fingers unconsciously dug into the seam of his trousers.

The tall, thin policeman swayed, grabbing the edge of the table to steady himself, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The young patrolman's tears welled up in his eyes, but he forgot to let them fall.

The image of the former director's greedy face flashed through their minds simultaneously.

In the past, whenever the police station had income, the former station chief would pocket it all. The subordinates not only didn't get a share, but they also had to frequently pay out of their own pockets to treat the station chief to meals and drinks, which was extremely difficult for them.

Liu Jiaxiang surprisingly used all the money for the station, benefiting every patrol officer present. This was truly unprecedented.

The patrolmen's breathing gradually became heavy, their chests heaving, and the ashen color on their faces faded, replaced by an excited flush.

The burly patrolman suddenly straightened his back, his eyes blazing with intense light, while the tall, thin patrolman rubbed his hands together, his lips curling into an uncontrollable grin.

The young patrolman wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, his gaze towards Liu Jiaxiang filled with admiration.

A group of people moved forward and gathered around the table, expressing their opinions all at once, their voices trembling with excitement:

"The director is benevolent and righteous."

"Your kindness to the brothers is as heavy as a mountain."

"From now on, this life belongs to you."

The officers' eyes had completely transformed from initial fear to respect and admiration.

Liu Jiaxiang remained calm and waved his hand again to quell the commotion.

"Look at all of you, so useless."

His tone carried a hint of mockery, but his gaze was sharp as a knife.

"This is nothing."

The patrol officers immediately fell silent and listened intently.

"Once the police station has finished changing its uniforms, we will then crack down on those shady gambling dens and casinos in our jurisdiction."

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, but spoke clearly.

"If we succeed in this, our institute will definitely make money."

The patrol officers' eyes lit up, as if they could see mountains of gold and silver shimmering before their eyes.

Liu Jiaxiang continued, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"Don't worry, I'm not the type of person who likes to hog everything."

He held up three fingers, then slowly bent one up.

"From now on, when the station has any income, 40% will be mine, 20% will be used as reserve funds for the police station, and the remaining 40% will all be yours."

The patrol officers gasped, exchanging ecstatic glances, their fingers trembling slightly with excitement.

The burly patrolman clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

"But Lao Tzu has already said so."

Liu Jiaxiang's tone suddenly changed, his eyes turning cold as he scanned every face.

"Anyone who dares to break my rules will not be tolerated in this Xisi North Police Station."

Liu Jiaxiang's words were like ice blades slicing through the air.

The patrol officers felt a chill run down their spines; their initial fervor subsided, replaced by a growing sense of awe.

The group of patrol officers were about to erupt in excitement. The burly officer stepped forward first, his chest heaving, his voice hoarse but firm:

"Please rest assured, Chief. You are so kind to the brothers. If anyone dares to disobey you, the brothers will kill him without you even having to say a word."

The tall, thin patrolman echoed, patting his chest:

"Yes, kill him."

The young patrolman nodded vigorously, a fierce glint in his eyes.

The others clenched their fists and growled, their vows surging forth like a tidal wave, filling the small meeting room.

Liu Jiaxiang nodded in satisfaction, the smile on his lips deepening slightly.

"It's good that you're aware of this."

He stood up and dusted off the hem of his long robe.

"The institute is having a dinner party tonight, and it's on me."

The patrol officers cheered instantly, then quickly covered their mouths, their faces beaming with childlike ecstasy.

Eat and drink as much as you like.

Liu Jiaxiang added, his gaze sweeping over the faces flushed with excitement.

"Starting tomorrow, you will be conducting a thorough investigation of our jurisdiction."

He walked towards the door with steady steps.

"Once the equipment arrives, I'll lead you guys to riches."

The patrol officers readily agreed, their voices loud and clear:

"Yes, Director."

After the meeting ended, Liu Jiaxiang pushed open the door and left.

The patrol officers immediately swarmed around him, like stars surrounding the moon.

A burly patrolman rushed ahead to lead the way, a tall, thin patrolman solicitously held the door frame, and a young patrolman jogged to open the gate.

A group of people stepped out of the police station, their shadows lengthened by the setting sun, their footsteps disordered yet filled with an unprecedented sense of high spirits.

They whispered about the food and drinks for the evening, their eyes eager and smiles playing on their lips, as they walked closely around the figure in the plain-colored long robe in the center of the street towards a restaurant deep in the alleys of Xisi North Street.

Over the next few days, Liu Jiaxiang purchased a full set of police uniforms and equipment from the higher-level police station, and also conducted intensive training for the patrol officers in the station.

That afternoon, at two o'clock, the sunlight streamed through the windows of the conference room at the Xisi North Police Station, casting long, slanted patches of light on the ground.

Inside, twelve patrol officers, dressed in brand-new, crisp black uniforms and with standardized batons at their waists, stood in two rows.

Although his posture was still slightly uneven, it was a world of difference compared to his casual behavior of picking his toes and teeth a few days ago.

The sense of constraint brought by the new police uniforms and the fatigue from days of training left a barely perceptible tension on their faces.